Electric-wire coupling.



A. H. HESTERHAGBN. ELBGTRIG WIRE GOUPLING. APPLICATION FILED APB. 14, 1910.

Patented July 19, 1910.

AUGUST H. HESTEEHAGEN, 0F JERSEY CITY, lNEW' JERSEY.

ELECTRIC-WIRE coUrLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Julyr 19, 1910.

Application mea April 14, 1910. serial No. 555,421.

To all whom 'it may concern:

` Be it known that I, AUGUST H.' HESTER- HAGEN, acitizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, Hudson county, and State Aof New Jersey, have invented certain new conditions of use with perfect safety, at the ksame time dispensing with soldered ors liced joints or other expensive and compllcated forms and methods of connection.

It is Well known that the conditions and restrictions imposed by ofhcial authority are exacting and require absolute and perfect insulation of all metallic connections and parts; also that soldered and spliced joints are expensive by reason of the skilled labor involved, and are not even then always re.- liable. I obviate these diiiiculties and meet all requirements by my invention which affords a positive electrical connection so simple and compact-that it may be quickly and conveniently applied and used even in situations and positions that would be otherwise inaccessible.

The invention consists in the specific construction and arrangement of parts described and claimed, distinguishing features being the embedding ofthe metallic couplin in a base section of insulating material, an a cap sectionof insulating material secured to the base by a binding screw and nut, the latter being embedded in one section and the screw passing through the other section and being isolated from the metallic coupling by the material of both sections.

Incidentally the invention includes certain minor details of construction hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l, is an elevation of my. improved single connection coupling; Fig. 2, a view of the inner' side of the base section; Fig. 3, a view of the inner side of the cap section; Fig. 4f, a transverse section upon plane of line 4 4- Fig. l; Fig. 5, a transverse section upon plane of line 5 5- Fig. l; Fig. 6, a transverse section upon plane of line 6 6- Fig. l;

Fig. 7, a transverse section upon plane ofline 7 7- F ig. l; Fig. 8, a section upon plane of the line 8 8- Fig. l; Fig. 9 is an elevation of a double connection coupling made in accordance with my invention; Fig. l() is an elevation of the inner side of the base section; Fig. ll, a view of the inner side of the cap section; Fig. 12 is a transverse section upon plane of line 12-l2- Fig. 9.

The metallic cou ling plate m, is countersunk in the inner slde of the base section b, and is secured in position by a shouldered rear projection m, embedded in the base section b,- the latter being made of porcelain or other suitable non-conducting material. This shouldered back projection or anchor m', may be conveniently formed of a screw engaging a thread tapped for its reception in -the coupling plate m,- the head of the screw 'embedded in the base b, serving to hold the coupling plate rigidly in position, although this construction is not essential, since any suitl able shouldered back projection of the couplling plate rigid therewith and embedded in the base section b, will serve to anchor said coupling plate rmly in position on the base section. The anchor m', being entirely inclosed and sealed within the base section b, is obviously isolated and protected against contact with extraneous objects.

The metalliccoupling plate m, is tapped near each extremity with a screw hole m2, to receive the threaded Shanks of the binding screws a, a, and concentric with these screw holes m2, are formed upturned flanges m3, which confine the loops lw, w, of the ends of the conducting wires fw', fw. The ends of the base section b, are formed with semicircular grooves b, for the accommodation of the insulated wire, and the ends of the cap section c, are likewise formed with corresponding grooves c, c', for the same purpose. l

The cap section c, is made of non-conducting material and its inner face is recessed sufficiently to accommodate the heads of the binding screws a, a, said cap section c, is secured to the base section b, by a screw s, and nut n, the latter being embedded in either section as may be desired or found most expedient. In the drawings the nut is shown as embedded in the cap section c, and the base section b, is formed with a screw hole b2, extending through an insulating sleeve b3, projecting through a hole in the coupling late m, as shown in Figs. 4, 8 and l2. This annular flange or insulating sleeve b3, elfectually protects the screws,

from contact with the metallic coupling plate and prevents short circuiting. The screw hole b2, is also formed with a shoulder l2", for contact with the head-of the screw and this shoulder b4, is situated within the external surface of the section to insurec the countersinking of the head of the screw suiiciently to protect the head against contact with extraneous objects, except such as may be inserted in the hole. As a further precaution the outer end of the screw hole may be filled with wax or other sealing material if desired, although this-is not essential since the isolation of the screw is complete in so far as the metallic coupling plate is concerned.

To insure the proper alinement lof the parts and prevent lateral movement of the sections upon the screw s, the base and cap sections aie formed on their inner sides with interlocking male and female parts 1 and 2, and these may obviously be formed alternately on either of the said parts. Thus in the drawings the male parts l., are shown as formed on the base section b, and the correspending female parts 2 on the cap section c, but the arrangement may be reversed with like result,the essential feature in this respect being the formationof interlocking parts on the opposed contact surfaces of the sections that will eectually prevent lateral play or movement when the two sections are screwed together.

In the modication shown in the last fourl igures of the drawings the structure is the same except that the insulating sleeve or flange b3, projects through side recesses m4, m4, in the metallic coupling plates m, m, and the base is also formed witha longitudinal rib b5, interposed in position between said coupling plates. rlhe duplex form of coupling shown in the last four ligures is designed for special uses in which a plurality ofconnections are essential. Otherwise, as, before stated, it is a mere duplication of the parts shown in the other ligures of the drawings.

l am enabled to make. my coupling so small and compact that it may be conveniently used even in the relatively narrow contracted metallic moldings now prescribed as conductors for electric wires, as well as in outlet boxes, panel boxes and conduit-s generally. lt is also especially adapted for use in canopies and other contracted places in which the use of soldered or spliced joints would be impossible or dangerous. Furthermore in addition to its simplicity and cheapness it alfords an absolutely safe, positive means of connection. Another advantage of my construction of coupling is that it is always accessible for inspection or substitution of wires and is a .permanent device not vdestroyed by disconnection.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

l. An electric wire couplingcomprising a base plate of non-conducting material, a metallic coupling plate formed on its back side with -a shouldered anchor which is embedded in thebase section, and also formed with screw. holes for binding screws, said binding screws, a cap of non-conducting materialiitting over the base, securing screw passing through one section and engaging with a nut embedded in the other section, and said nut, for the purpose described.

2. An electric wire coupling comprising a base plate' of non-conducting material, a metallic coupling plate countersunk in the inner side thereof and formed on its back side with a shouldered anchor which is enibedded in the base section, and also formed with screw holes for binding screws, said bindin screws, a cap of non-conducting material tting over the base section, a securing screw passing through one section and engaging with a nut embedded in the other section, said nut, for the purpose described.

3. An electric wire coupling' comprising a base plate of non-conducting material, a

metallic coupling plate formed on its back.

side with a shouldered anchor which is embedded in the base section, and also formed with screw holes for binding screws, said bindin screws, ja cap 'of non-conducting material tting over the base section, a securing screw passing through one section and engaging with a nut embedded in the other section, said nut, the contacting surfaces of the base and cap sections being formed with interlocking parts, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.

4. An electric wire coupling comprising a base plate of non-conducting material, a metallic coupling,plate formed on its back side with a shouldered anchor which is embedded in the base section, and also Jformed with screw holes for binding screws, said binding screws, a cap of non-conducting -material itting over the base section, a

curing screw passing through one section and engaging with a nut embedded in the other section, and said nut, andV an annular flange of the non-conducting material in one section interposed between the securing screw and the metallic coupling plate, for the purpose described.

AUGUST H. HESTERHAGEN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD `WILLMIAMW, EDWARD Lanaken. 

